Femtosecond and nanosecond laser induced breakdown spectroscopic studies of NTO, HMX, and RDX

We present our results from the laser induced breakdown spectroscopic studies of 5-Nitro-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-one (NTO), Octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), and 1,3,5-Trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) investigated using nanosecond and femtosecond pulses. The presence of C, CN peaks in the spectra, signatures of high energy materials, was confirmed and persistence of emissions has been measured. Some of the Nitrogen peaks in fs LIBS spectra were found to be lower in magnitude (after normalization with N 868.60 nm peak) compared to the ns LIBS spectra. The presence of an additional CN peak in the fs spectra was identified for all samples. The ratio of CN peaks (388.28 nm, 387.08 nm, 386.16 nm) to C peak (247.82 nm), recorded with similar fluences, was discovered to be stronger in the fs case. Some of the possible mechanisms ensuing from our studies towards discrimination of such materials are outlined.

► LIBS spectra of NTO, HMX, and RDX studied using ns and fs pulses.
► Lifetimes of C, CN peaks and other atomic peaks were recorded in both time domains.
► Some of the Nitrogen peaks in fs spectra were found to be lower in magnitude.
► Evaluated ratio of CN/C was found to be higher in the fs LIBS data.